Nokia

Nokia Bell Labs’ pioneering innovations will be used to build and deploy the first ultra-compact, low-power, space-hardened, end-to-end LTE solution on the lunar surface in late 2022.

Created: 2020-12-22

Updated: 2024-01-27

Company - Nokia

Founded
Country: 1865; Finland

Funding: Yes, ?

Website: https://www.nokia.com/

Social

Product/Service

Classification: Space Utilities

Category: In-Space Communications Relay

Status: Development

First launch: 2024

Partners: Lunar Outpost, Intuitive Machines

Nokia won a $14.1 million award to develop lunar communications systems using 4G wireless networks.

Nokia is partnering with Intuitive Machines for this mission to integrate this groundbreaking network into their lunar lander and deliver it to the lunar surface. The network will self-configure upon deployment and establish the first LTE communications system on the Moon.

The network will provide critical communication capabilities for many different data transmission applications, including vital command and control functions, remote control of lunar rovers, real-time navigation and streaming of high definition video. These communication applications are all vital to long-term human presence on the lunar surface.

In the Nokia Bell Labs mission, the end-to-end system has been optimized for the extreme lunar environment and to minimize size, weight and power. The various components of the LTE network are tightly integrated with the ultra-compact base station mounted on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, rather than deployed as separate units as they typically are in terrestrial networks.

The other key hardware components of the mission are the LTE user equipment integrated into Lunar Outpost’s MAPP rover and two different sets of antennas that provide the connectivity between the lander and rover. Upon successfully landing on the Moon, our LTE network will operate for up to 12 days, during lunar daylight, enabling surface communications between the lander and the rover. That link will be used to control the rover remotely from Earth when it is not operating autonomously, as well as send back a live video feed, telemetry and network measurements collected across the rover’s multi-kilometer path.

DARPA LunA-10 Program Study, 2023-2024

To this end, DARPA has selected 14 companies for the 10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study, which aims to catalyze the setup of a future civil lunar framework for peaceful U.S. and international use. LunA-10 seeks to study the rapid development of technology concepts for a series of shareable, scalable systems that can operate jointly, creating monetizable services for future lunar users.

Status Comment / Notes

Nokia's payload is scheduled for Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission, planned for mid-2024 as of late 2023.

Sources

Most sources should be linked in the texts and headings as revealed by mouse-over, but here are they listed for visibility.

[1] https://www.nokia.com/

[2] https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2020/10/19/nokia-selected-by-nasa-to-build-first-ever-cellular-network-on-the-moon/

[3] https://spacenews.com/nasa-awards-contracts-for-lunar-technologies-and-ice-prospecting-payload/

News, Research, Projects and Patents

Title	Type	Date	Summary
Nokia and Intuitive Machines Select Lunar Outpost for First Rover Mission at Lunar South Pole	News	2021-07-22

Similar Organizations

Aquarian Space

In-Space Communications Relay

Early stage, Dormant

Argotec

Andromeda

In-Space Communications Relay

Development

ATLAS Space Operations

In-Space Communications Relay, Deep Space Communications

Cancelled

Celestial

In-Space Communications Relay

Concept, Dormant

CommStar Space Communications

CommStar-1

In-Space Communications Relay

Early stage

CosmoX

In-Space Communications Relay

Dormant

Crescent Space

Parsec

In-Space Communications Relay, Lunar Navigation

Development

Fibertek

In-Space Communications Relay, Deep Space Communications

Development

Hedy-Anthiel

Myriad

In-Space Communications Relay

Dormant, Concept

Honeywell

In-Space Communications Relay

Concept, Development

Hypergiant

In-Space Communications Relay

Concept, Dormant

Indicium

ShootCapsule

In-Space Communications Relay, In-Orbit Data Storage

Concept, Dormant

Intuitive Machines

Nova-C

Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Communications Relay

Demonstrated

ispace

In-Space Communications Relay

Development

Kepler Communications

Optical Service, Ku-band Service, S-band Service

In-Space Communications Relay

Development, Launched

Liftport Group

Lunar Communications Platform (Oreades), PicoGravity Lab, Lunar Space Elevator

In-Space Communications Relay, Commercial Space Station, Space Elevator

Early stage

Lunar Ascent

Space Tug, In-Space Communications Relay, Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

Early stage

MPB Communications

In-Space Communications Relay, Deep Space Communications

Concept

Plus Ultra Space Outposts

Harmony

In-Space Communications Relay, Deep Space Communications

Dormant

Quantum Space

Ranger

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Communications Relay, In-Space Manufacturing, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Orbit Inspection, Beyond-LEO Remote Sensing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)